Method For Operating A Motor Vehicle As A Road User On A Road And Motor Vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle as a first road user on a road, comprising: obtaining information on the current and/or a possible future traffic situation on the road; determining, based on the obtained information, whether a deviation from the present travel and/or steering direction or from a navigation destination on the road is appropriate according to a predefined criterion in order to clear the way for a second road user directly or indirectly via third road users, and if yes: determining a new destination on or at the side of the road, determining whether it is necessary to drive onto an obstacle in order to reach the new destination, and if yes, checking whether an adjustment of the chassis of the motor vehicle is compatible with driving onto the obstacle, and if yes, prompting the motor vehicle to head for the new destination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a motor vehicle as a first road user on a road, comprising:
 obtaining information on one or more of a current and a possible future traffic situation on the road;   determining, based on the obtained information, whether a deviation from the present travel and/or steering direction or from a navigation destination on the road is appropriate according to a predefined criterion in order to clear the way for a second road user directly or indirectly via third road users; and if the deviation is appropriate:
 determining a new destination on or at the side of the road; 
 determining whether it is necessary to drive onto an obstacle in order to reach the new destination; and if this is the case: 
 checking whether an adjustment of the chassis of the motor vehicle is compatible with driving onto the obstacle; and if this is the case: 
 prompting the motor vehicle to head for the new destination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the driver is informed, using optical, acoustic and/or haptic signals, that it is not possible to drive over the obstacle if the adjustment of the chassis is not compatible with driving onto the obstacle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the driver is also informed by the signals of the possibility to adapt the chassis to the obstacle by providing a corresponding input. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis of the motor vehicle is suitably adjusted automatically. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second road user is an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, and in that, during obtaining information, the information of the second road user approaching is obtained acoustically within the audible frequency range and/or by ultrasound and/or optically and/or by infrared and/or by ultraviolet and/or based on signals from the second and/or third road users and/or based on signals from stationary units at the side of a road and/or from drones and/or satellites. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of prompting the motor vehicle to head for the new destination comprises at least issuing a signal to the driver in order to recommend the new destination. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the recommendation is given to the driver using at least one of the following:
 an acoustic voice prompt that gives details about the new destination;   an acoustic and/or haptic signal in order to attract the driver's attention in conjunction with a visual detail display of a new direction of travel and/or of the new destination on a display;   optical signaling in order to attract the driver's attention in conjunction with a visual detail display of a new direction of travel and/or of the new destination on a display outside of normal navigation;   a visual detail display of a new direction of travel and/or of the new destination on a display integrated into ongoing or spontaneously activated new navigation;   haptic signals on a steering device of the motor vehicle; and   signals on glasses worn by the driver or wearables worn by the driver.   
     
     
         8 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 a circuit for obtaining information on a current and/or a possible future traffic situation on a road traveled on by the motor vehicle;   a circuit for acquiring information on a roadway and/or road boundaries in the surroundings of the motor vehicle;   a data processor, which is configured to receive the information obtained by the circuit for obtaining information and to evaluate said information according to a predefined criterion with regard to the approach of another road user for whom the way should be cleared;   wherein the data processor determines, based on the information obtained by the circuit for acquiring, which new destination should be headed for such that the way may be cleared for the other road user, wherein, if the other road user is approaching, the circuit for acquiring information on the roadway and/or road boundaries in the surroundings of the motor vehicle is activated or querying thereof is activated, and wherein the data processor is configured to evaluate the information acquired on the roadway and/or road boundaries in the surroundings of the motor vehicle with regard to whether there is an obstacle and whether an adjustment of the chassis is compatible with driving onto the obstacle, wherein the data processor is also configured to prompt a course to be set for the new destination if this is the case.   
     
     
         9 . The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the circuit for acquiring information on the roadway and/or road boundaries in the surroundings of the motor vehicle is provided by: at least one front camera and/or at least one side camera and/or at least one ultrasonic sensor and/or at least one laser scanner and/or at least one radar sensor, the signals of which may be used to obtain information on the height of a curb. 
     
     
         10 . The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the motor vehicle comprises an adjustable chassis that may be adapted to obstacles. 
     
     
         11 . The motor vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable chassis is automatically adapted to a new destination determined for the purpose of clearing the way. 
     
     
         12 . The motor vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the data processor causes at least a signal to be output to a driver of the motor vehicle in order to prompt said driver to adjust the chassis by driver input and, after receiving such a driver input, causes the chassis to be adapted to a new destination determined for the purpose of clearing the way. 
     
     
         13 . The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein an output for a driving recommendation to a driver of the motor vehicle is activated if the other road user is approaching. 
     
     
         14 . The motor vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the recommendation is given to the driver using at least one of the following:
 a loudspeaker, which outputs an acoustic voice prompt that gives details about the new destination;   a loudspeaker for an acoustic signal and/or a vibrating actuator for a haptic signal in order to attract the driver's attention in conjunction with a display for the visual detail display of a new direction of travel and/or of the new destination;   a lamp for optical signaling in order to generally attract the driver's attention in conjunction with a display outside of normal navigation for the visual detail display of a new direction of travel;   a display, which is used during navigation in the motor vehicle for the visual detail display of a new direction of travel;   a vibrating actuator on a steering device of the motor vehicle for generating haptic signals; and   glasses worn by the driver and/or wearables worn by the driver in conjunction with a transceiver device of the motor vehicle for this purpose.   
     
     
         15 . The motor vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the circuit for obtaining information acquires the information based on acoustic signals within the audible frequency range and/or by ultrasound and/or based on optical signals and/or by infrared and/or by ultraviolet and/or based on signals from other road users and/or based on signals from stationary units at the side of a road and/or from drones and/or satellites. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chassis of the motor vehicle is suitably adjusted automatically. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second road user is an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, and in that, during obtaining information, the information of the second road user approaching is obtained acoustically within the audible frequency range and/or by ultrasound and/or optically and/or by infrared and/or by ultraviolet and/or based on signals from the second and/or third road users and/or based on signals from stationary units at the side of a road and/or from drones and/or satellites. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second road user is an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, and in that, during obtaining information, the information of the second road user approaching is obtained acoustically within the audible frequency range and/or by ultrasound and/or optically and/or by infrared and/or by ultraviolet and/or based on signals from the second and/or third road users and/or based on signals from stationary units at the side of a road and/or from drones and/or satellites. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second road user is an ambulance, a fire truck, or a police car, and in that, during obtaining information, the information of the second road user approaching is obtained acoustically within the audible frequency range and/or by ultrasound and/or optically and/or by infrared and/or by ultraviolet and/or based on signals from the second and/or third road users and/or based on signals from stationary units at the side of a road and/or from drones and/or satellites. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of prompting the motor vehicle to head for the new destination comprises at least issuing a signal to the driver in order to recommend the new destination.